Drivers go solo faster under "restricted P1" pilot

Several remote towns in western NSW are set to take part in a two-year pilot program allowing local drivers to hit the roads in half the normal time.

Member for Murray-Darling John Williams says learner drivers will need just 50 rather than 100 hours in order to get a restricted P1 licence.

He says the drivers will only be able to travel to places for health, work and education appointments.

But he says it will reduce the number of unlicensed drivers on the road in remote areas lacking public transport like Broken Hill, Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke, Balranald and Hay that the pilot covers.

"They're certainly going to be restricted in the speed that they drive at," Mr Williams said.

"I don't think we have the volume of traffic that city drivers have to face, so I think you'll find that most drivers out here in these remote areas are probably not experiencing the challenges young drivers experience in the city.

"For a lot of young people in country NSW, a car is a pretty important part of doing what they need to do on a daily basis so we don't have public transport, and we don't have the type of support that's available for city drivers so for young people it certainly allows them to start driving a vehicle solo after 50 hours."